School of Social and Political Science

Description

Do you do everything to avoid conflict or do you react to it by becoming overly defensive? When tempers are raised do you enter into an argument that ends with nothing resolved or are you the peacemaker? Conflict is a normal part of life and can also feature within the workplace and within every organisation. How we deal with this can have far reaching consequences, dealing with it well can strengthen relationships but dealing with it badly can lead to a breakdown within the team, poor morale, increased stress and in extreme circumstances violence and aggression. Conflict itself is often not the problem, it’s how it’s managed in resolving it that can either lead to successful outcomes or result in things worsening and getting out of control.

This workshop will look at the causes of conflict, how it’s handled and the consequences of ignoring it.

We will look at methods and approaches used in conflict resolution and how we can negotiate successfully to bring a satisfactory solution to all parties concerned.

Real life examples and case studies will be used throughout and will include both international, UK and academic illustrations. Group work will be carried out under Chatham House Rules and participants will also be encouraged to think about their own experiences dealing with conflict, how they reacted to it and whether the outcome was successful or not.

Case studies and group work will be tailored to the Undergraduate audience, please ensure you sign up for the correct study level for this workshop.

Facilitated by Lorraine Porteous